The electrochemical behaviours of electro-synthesized poly(aniline) (PANI) cathode and commercial zinc anode in an aqueous electrolyte were investigated. The poly(aniline) sulphate cathodes were synthesized by galvanostatic oxidation of aniline from a sulphuric acid bath on platinum substrate and characterized by UV-Visible and FTIR spectroscopy. The electrolyte is comprised of ammonium sulphate and zinc sulphate dissolved in double distilled water. The slow scan linear voltammetry (Tafel plot) for the commercial zinc anode was recorded in this electrolyte and compared with its behaviour in chloride electrolyte. A negative shift of the open circuit potential of 55 mV, decrease in exchange current density of one order, and increase of cathodic Tafel slope in this sulphate electrolyte was observed. The above facts enhance the cell potential and the reversibility of the cell having the configuration, PANI || (NH₄)₂SO₄, ZnSO₄ (aq) || Zn. A discharge pleato with an average discharge potential of 1.1 V, which varied depending on the discharge current density, was observed for this reversible cell. The maximum discharge capacity, observed from this cell in the sulphate electrolyte, is 137 mAh.g⁻¹.

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